FAQ and Useful Resources

What Is Autism?

Autism is a lifelong developmental condition, affecting around one in 100 people. It’s often characterised by difficulty in social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviours and interests. An estimated 164,000 Australians are on the autism spectrum, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

People on the autism spectrum may have:

Social communication and social interaction issues

Restricted or repetitive behaviours and interests

Unusual sensory interests such as sniffing objects or staring intently at moving objects

Sensory sensitivities including avoiding everyday sounds and textures such as hair dryers and vacuum cleaners

Effective Early Intervention

Early intervention programs are an important first step for children with autism and other developmental concerns. Early diagnosis followed by individualised early intervention can provide the best opportunities for achieving their potential.

TOBY 5-7’s has recently been made available to provide therapy for early primary school aged children.

TOBY is evidence-based and has recently been deemed effective after a 2-year clinical trial by Telethon Kids Institute, making it the world’s first app clinically proven to enhance developmental outcomes. For more information about TOBY visit their website, or you can download the apps from iTunes:

*Seeking a diagnosis privately is often quicker but financially more expensive.

Adult Assessment and Diagnosis

For adults seeking an assessment and diagnosis, the best way forward is meet with a clinical psychologist and/or psychiatrist who has a deep understanding of autism and experience with the formal assessment and diagnosis process.

Therapy and Other Psychological Services

Psychological and Educational Consultancy Services (PECS) is a Perth-based psychology practice that has been conducting psychological and educational assessments for children, adolescents and adults for over 18 years. For more information:

The Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides mental health programs to infants, children and young people up to the age of 17. This includes services in the community and in a hospital setting.

There are 10 Community CAMHS clinic locations across the Perth metropolitan area. These clinics provide assessment and treatment of mental health difficulties in infants, children and young people. The contact details of each clinic is listed below:

Help for Carers

Carers WA

Carers WA has a professional and confidential telephone counselling service that can help carers discover effective ways of coping with the everyday challenges of caring. The service is used by carers throughout the state, secure in the knowledge that there is someone they can contact for support, who understands their needs and is able to guide them to appropriate services:

Carers Counselling Line

Phone: 1800 007 332 (Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm) – Freecall

Crisis Helplines

The Kids Helpline

The Kids helpline is a 24×7 free, private and confidential telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25 in Australia. To find out more:

Lifeline WA provides all Western Australians experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Their service is a nationally-routed crisis support number, available every day of the year, from any location in Australia. It is available to anyone – regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

Financial Assistance & Funding

Do you need assistance with financial support? Contact us to find out about what options are available to you and your family, and to ensure you’re accessing all or the funding available.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a new way of providing support to Australians with disability, their families and carers.

NDIS provides you with more choice and control, giving you the ability to choose the supports you need, as well as how, when, where and who provides that support. Funding levels are tailored to the supports you need to achieve your life goals.

Autism West are happy to announce that we have been approved to become a registered NDIS provider as of 1 December 2017. This is a great opportunity opening up increased accessibility to our services via diverse funding options. To be kept up to date with our progress, email us at info@autismwest.org.au.

Non-NDIS Funding

Families who do not live in WA NDIS areas are still able to access funding for support services. DSC Local Coordinators (LCs) are available to help people with disability, living outside WA NDIS areas to access individualised funding for supports.

Early Intervention Funding – 0-7 years

The Australian Government provides early intervention funding via programs:

Helping Children with Autism (HCWA)

Better Start for Children with Disability (Better Start)

Under these programs, children under 6years of age with an eligible diagnosis can access early intervention funding of up to $12,000 (a maximum of $6,000 per financial year). Funding is for services and therapies from a panel of registered service providers. Up to 35% of this funding ($4,200, or $2,100 per financial year) can be used to buy resources recommended for your child by a registered service provider. This includes visual aids, communication boards, sound field systems or other equipment.

Funding must be spent by the child’s seventh birthday. If your child is over 7, visit ‘Children over 7 years of age’ for information about other services you may be able to access.

HCWA and Better Start Medicare Items – 0-15 years

Children under the age of 13 can access HCWA and Better Start Medicare items available for assessment, diagnosis and the creation of a treatment and management plan. Once a treatment and management plan is in place, items are available for sessions with a range of allied health professionals including psychologists, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists.

Services include:

Up to 4 diagnostic / assessment services to assist the referring practitioner with diagnosis or to contribute to a child’s treatment and management plan (for a child under 13 years of age).

Up to 20 treatment sessions (for a child under 15, providing they have a treatment and management plan in place by thirteen).

You don’t need to be registered with HCWA or Better Start to use these Medicare items.

More info, including specific Medicare item numbers, can be found via the links below:

Community Living & Participation Grants

Community Living and Participation Grants provide up to $10,000 for customised solutions that support people with disability to participate in family and community life. People with disability can apply for equipment, resources, activities and projects connected to their particular social and recreational goals.

Education Services

The Autism Extension Program (AEP)

The Autism Extension Program (AEP) is supported by Autism Education Services and is one of 4 programs in WA set up and supported by the Department of Education’s Centre for Inclusive Schooling.

The AEP’s are based at Ashdale Secondary College, Canning Vale College, Ocean Reef High School and South Fremantle Senior High School.

Additional Schooling Options

For additional schooling options there is an Australian Schools Directory search which lists all Government and Private schools in Australia so that parents can easily find the type of school they want in any location in Australia.

Employment

Specialisterne Australia

Specialisterne Australia is an organisation helping employers understand, value, and integrate the unique perspective and capabilities of people on the autism spectrum.

Disability Employment Australia

Disability Employment Australia undertakes a range of functions designed to support our members to achieve best practice service provision in their role to find employment outcomes for people with disability.

Companion Card

The Companion Card is for people with a significant and permanent disability, who require attendant care support in order to participate at community venues and activities are always going to need a high level of care to get to community based activities. Cardholders present their card when booking or purchasing a ticket from a participating business. Participating businesses will recognise the Companion Card and issue the cardholder with a second ticket for their companion at no charge.

Assistive Equipment

The Independent Living Centre WA provide assistive technology and equipment as well as a range of other services to help enable Western Australians of all ages and abilities to live more independent and fulfilling lives.

Note: Autism West does not undertake research, however we like to be as involved as we can and collaborate with others when they need it. Many of these projects are looking for people like you to help them and take part in their research.